Texas voters have re-elected Republican Ted Cruz to the US Senate after a tight battle with Democrat Beto O’Rourke.
The Senate seat for the Lone Star state remains ruby red after the historic 2018 midterms, though analysts said Mr O’Rourke brought a wave of Democratic voters to the ballots and could prove a viable candidate in the 2020 presidential elections.
His candidacy may have proven beneficial for Democrats like Gina Ortiz Jones whose bid to win the House of Representatives seat of Republican Will Hurd in the state’s 23rd district was too close to call.
Mr Cruz was not the only Republican to fight back against Democrats threatening the GOP’s hold on the region, however.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also won a second term by defeating Democrat Lupe Valdez in a race whose outcome was seldom in doubt.
Mr Cruz congratulated Mr O’Rourke during a celebratory speech on Tuesday night, saying his opponent “poured his heart” into the race.
Meanwhile, Mr O’Rourke said he was “so f****** proud” of his supporters in a viral concession speech that essentially left the door open to his running against Donald Trump in 2020.
The president played a key role in the US Senate race, throwing his support behind Mr Cruz and stumping for the Republican despite the two previously hurling exchanges towards each other in the 2016 presidential election.
To catch up on how the evening progressed follow our live blog below
Record voter turnout forecast as Americans head to ballot box today - follow live
Record voter turnout is expected as US voters go to the polls today for midterm elections in which 35 million early votes have already been cast. The figure eclipses the 2014 total, when fewer than 20 million early votes were counted. All seats are up for grabs in the House of Representatives, along with 35 seats in the Senate. Republicans currently hold majorities in both but polls indicate the House could swing to a Democrat majority, which would be a major blow to President Donald Trump.Several major US cities are offering free public transport for election day, including in Houston and Dallas, both in Texas and Tampa, Florida.
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"I'm feeling grateful for everyone before me who fought so hard to give us all the right to have a voice," the singer wrote in her Instagram post. "We can’t voice our frustrations and complain about what’s wrong without voting and exercising our power to make it right. We need you. We all need each other, because when we are truly united we are unstoppable. Sending you all love and positivity on this happy voting day! Every vote counts. Every race matters. Everywhere."
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